New York

The heated battle over a scheduled appearance by anti-Islamist activist Pamela Geller at the Great Neck Synagogue that was ultimately cancelled came to a head on Sunday morning, when hundreds showed up to hear Geller speak instead at the area’s Chabad shul, as well as to join a free speech demonstration afterwards outside the Nassau County Human Rights Commission.

Geller has gained substantial attention in recent years for her vocal opposition to the dangers of Islamic extremism, which has included such actions as coordinating a rally against the “Ground Zero” mosque and placing billboard advertisements in the New York City subway system decrying Islamic-based terrorism.

According to a recent New York Times report, last Friday (April 12) inspectors from the Food and Drug Administration confiscated roughly $1 million in inventory from Queens-based V.I.P. Foods upon raiding the company’s New York headquarters and discovering vermin infestations.

V.I.P. Foods is the manufacturer of KoJel kosher food products, which includes foods such as instant puddings and soups.

On Friday, April 12, the announcement was made by the Chancellor of The City University of New York that he was planning to step down from this post this coming summer. Matthew Goldstein, who has held this position since 1999 said in a letter to the members of the CUNY community that “Serving this exceptional university alongside so many extraordinary colleagues has been the greatest privilege of my professional life.”

Makeup mogul Leonard Lauder has pledged to donate $1 billion worth of Cubist artwork to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

“This is a gift to the people who live and work in New York and those from around the world who come to visit our great arts institutions,” said the 80-year-old chairman emeritus of the EstéeLauder Companies Inc.

The collection, which includes 33 works by Pablo Picasso, will be “transformational” for the Fifth Ave. museum, said Met director and CEO

Several left-wing Jewish organizations have been exerting pressure on the Great Neck Synagogue to cancel the planned April 14 speech there by strident Islamist critic Pamela Geller.

In their coordinated effort, Jewish Voice for Peace, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, and Jews Say No! have urged their members to contact the Modern Orthodox shul and demand that it rescind its invitation to Geller. Rebecca Vilkomerson, executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace, said that at least 50